County Durham micro firms sought for Oktoberfest Incubator Zone

County Durham new starts, micro firms and growing SMEs are being given a unique chance to be part of this year’s Oktoberfest.

As part of plans to encourage smaller companies to be part of the event, there will be a dedicated Incubator Zone for those companies who have never before exhibited.

The criteria is that the companies must:

Be based in County Durham

Employ less than 10 people

Have proven links to the manufacturing and engineering sectors

Actively looking to grow

Organisers of the annual Oktoberfest event have teamed up with Business Durham’s Durham Business Opportunities Programme (DBOP) to offer companies a mini exhibitor package which they hope will open the expo up to those companies who don’t have marketing budgets.

The package will mean they can have a presence within the show, with support provided to help prepare them for the exhibition and marketing materials such as banner stands and flyers designed and printed if they need them.

Peterlee-based LEC Communications and Design is delivery the Incubator Zone project after a competitive tender process through Durham County Council.

David Land, Chairman of the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN), which organises Oktoberfest, said: “We’re always looking to strengthen our offering to businesses and make our event appealing to them regardless of their size.

“Reviewing feedback and exhibitor statistics from the last few years, it was evident we could be doing more to appeal to those firms that are relatively new start ups, who perhaps want to raise their profile and meet potential new clients.

“We are aware that our existing offer could be quite daunting to businesses that fall into that category, so we have created an Incubator Zone within the main hall which is specifically designed for those firms that have never exhibited at Oktoberfest before.”

Businesses must be able to demonstrate a link to the engineering and manufacturing sectors, whether that’s through the products they make or services they supply, or that their current client base includes employers within these sectors.

Businesses across County Durham who meet the criteria can book a space, with an initial 15 stands available within the Incubator Zone.

The Incubator Zone is one of a number of themed elements of this year’s Oktoberfest event – the tenth since the event was launched in 2008 – including an Education Zone for budding engineers to meet employers, the University of Sunderland AMAP North East Maintenance Forum and a rail opportunities session held in partnership with the Rail Alliance.

Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director at CDEMN, said: “The themed workshops were introduced last year in response to feedback from attendees and proved immensely popular.

“The event celebrates its tenth birthday this year and we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure it’s our best yet. Oktoberfest is the perfect platform to showcase the North East’s vast capabilities within the engineering and manufacturing sectors; introduce businesses to potential clients and suppliers; and through the workshops give them a unique insight into areas that could support their growth.”

Alongside Business Durham, global rail manufacturer Stadler has also come on board as a gold sponsor, and Nigel Wright Recruitment is an associate partner.

To find out more visit the website, durhamoktoberfest.org.uk.

Durham Oktoberfest is also pleased to announce that on the evening of the event the regional Made in the North East awards hosted by Insider Media will be held at Redworth Hall Hotel. Businesses attending Oktoberfest are actively encouraged to get involved and promote their success by registering for one of the awards on offer. For more information visit https://www.insidermedia.com/event/made-in-the-north-east-awards-20.